Tokyo Beat Down DS

Tokyo Beat Down is a big pulsating pun, but happily one with a big heart. Somehow this little game gave me the warm fuzzies, despite derivative brawling game play straight out of the 80's.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tag Force 4 DS

The strategy in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tag Force 4 is deep and interesting, but ultimately it was too much work to master. I'll happily leave this one to existing fans of the series.

Transformers: War for Cybertron 360

Transformers: War for Cybertron swept me along with Prime, Ratchet and Bumblebee, back to the beginning of the troubles. New enough for my kids and yet old enough to evoke my own childhood, there was a lot to enjoy here.

Batman Arkham City 360

Arkham City takes centre stage for the next Batman game as we settle down for the long wait. In the meantime we have to console ourselves with the Wii/DS Batman - The Brave and the Bold.

Naughty Bear PS3

Naughty Bear PS3 mixes ultra-violence with cute and cuddly - and creates a disturbingly hilarious game. Take revenge in the deadliest way possible on all those Care Bear inspired toys. The technology and techniques combine to offer a full-on game that is as much Grand Theft Auto as it is Build a Bear.

Trivial Pursuits Wii

Trivial Pursuits Wii struggles to make sense in the fast paced disconnected world of the video game. It ticks all the boxes but lacks that middle-class competitive spark that made the real thing a roaring success.

Rainblood Town of Death PC

Although Rain Blood is only a few hours long, the story and bleak setting are genuinely moving. It places ideas under the microscope that are at times disquieting.

God of War Collection PS3

God of War Collection PS3 gives the PS2's God of War games a new lease of life on Blu Ray. Their age certainly wasn't a barrier to getting into my role whilst wearing the sandals of a Greek God, even if Kratos' motivations aren't easy to sympathise with.

Nier Podcast PS3

Nier is a very unusual game. We get under the skin of what makes it tick in this podcast.

King of Fighters XII PS3

King of Fighters XII is beautiful but simply never clicked for me. Before coming back to gaming I used to think you had to persevere at games like this. But now if I don't get it, I'm happy to move on.

Ben 10 Alien Force Vilgax Attacks Wii

Ben 10 Alien Force Vilgax Attacks paints by numbers and misses its opportunity to use the Wii controls to create something more novel. Dinosaurs, special powers and a teenage protagonist tick boxes for young players, but it's less inspiring for the parents playing along.

God of War III OST

Replicating the epic majesty of the Kratos' swan-song, the God of War 3 soundtrack is full of drama. However, matching the operatics of the game doesn't translate as well into something purely for listening. The orchestral noise level and the lack of diversity makes this oddly understated.

Naughty Bear 360

Naughty Bear 360 looks cute but plays mean - encouraging you to push your weight around in this colourful, but shallow bear 'em up. Despite the interest generated by its visuals, it offers very little for those that like dressing up, other than a few fetching hats.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron 360

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron brings the Hebrew Scripture's Book of Enoch to life in Devil May Cry fashion.

Naughty Bear PS3

Naughty Bear has been a closely guarded secret. The buzz has been increasing for months, the hype has been hyperbolic and my anticipation fever-pitch. And on both Xbox 360 and PS3 Naughty Bear looks right up my mischievous street - like a turbo charged Dennis the Menace.

MMA 360

EA joins the mixed martial arts genre with their new MMA franchise.

Street Fighter IV 3DS

Street Fighter IV's presence is testament to the visual horsepower of the 3DS.

All Star Karate Wii

All Star Karate offers some genuinely active game play that will contribute to a fitter lifestyle. But not only that, the tongue in cheek visuals, well measure controls and MotionPlus support make this a solid release for fitness and general gamers alike.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger 360

BlazBlue 360 is clean understandable fighting. Unusual for a fighting game, it hooked my psyche and made me consider it between sessions. The result is a game I better understand and enjoy. A fighter gateway drug of choice.

Super Street Fighter IV 360

Super Street Fighter 4 suckered me with my own nostalgia. It is undeniable worth the price, retailing at just twenty-five pounds; it adds a plethora of new characters, re-balancing, improved online and the return of bonus rounds. But I have reached a time in my life where getting friends around to play games is rare and random online matches become increasingly intimidated, so I feel duped by Capcom, because I am never going to play it how I want to.